QUESTION
Being illegal in the USA for 2 years but was paying taxes and had my SSN can that be a problem for approving my N400 application for my citizenship
Asked on Aug 20th, 2025 on Immigration - Florida
More details to this question:
I just finished my N 400 citizenship interview and the officer said the decision cannot be made yet. I am thinking that the reason could be is that I was here two years illegally in United States and the officer asked me have you ever been illegal here I said no . Because I didn’t know that if you’re married for two years, but you don’t send the papers to the immigration that still means that you’re illegally in the US. Can that cause a problem for not receiving my citizenship documents?
1 ANSWER
Immigration and Nationality Law Attorney serving New York, NY
Partner at
Alan Lee & Arthur Lee, Attorneys at Law
3 Awards
The problem may not be with your having been illegal in the US, but rather the way that you answered the question before the officer. You can be denied naturalization on the basis of a finding of no good moral character where you have not told the officer the truth at the interview. It should also be kept in mind, however, that any misrepresentations should be material – meaning that the misrepresentation should relate to a possible problem on an issue that matters affecting your immigration case. Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee & Arthur Lee, Esqs.’ (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.
Answered on Sep 01st, 2025 at 5:56 PM